Her mother did everything she could to comfort her. She whispered gentle reassurances, reminded Lily how strong she was, and held her close every time fear overwhelmed her. But still, Lily kept her hood up and her hands tight around the edges, as if the fabric could shield her from every worried glance.

She wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t smile, and wouldn’t allow the medical team to check her stitches. She didn’t feel like a survivor — she felt like she had lost a part of herself.